Supporter.



UNITED STATES PATENT .OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 1, 1905.

Application filed November 4, 1904. Serial No. 231,455.

' Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Supporters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the improvement of appliances for the treatment of varicocele, hydrocele, and similar diseases; and the objects of my invention are to provide an appliance of simple and improved construction which may be so applied to the affected parts as to retain said parts in positions which will tend to relieve the existing abnormal conditions, to so construct said appliance as to admit of its being readily applied and worn without inconvenience to the patient, and to produce other improvements the details of which will be pointed out hereinafter. These objects I accomplish in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my appliance with a portion of the waist-belt removed. Fig. 2 is a similar view disclosing the opposite side of the appliance, and Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the clamping end of the device.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views;

In carryingout my invention I employ a curled or ring-likeclamp 1, preferably of pliable wire. This wire is inclosed by the lower end of a fabric casing 2, which is of equal width throughout its length with the length of the wire forming the clamp 1. The casing thus formed when curled to conform to the curvature of the clamp is, as shown, in the nature of a sleeve and may be retained in this sleeve-like form through the medium of a suitable strap 3, which is adapted to be buckled about the central portion of the casing 2.

4: represents a supporting strap or belt, a portion of which is shown in the accompanying drawings. The belt 4 is connected with what may be termed the rear side of the casing 2 and, as shown in the drawings, is preferably connected with the lower end of said casing I at 5 through the medium of a narrowed straparm or tape 5, which leads from the under side or lower edge of the belt 4 through a suitable keeper 6, carried by the central binding-strap 3. As indicated at f, one terminal of the belt 4 is provided with a suitablebuckle, with which the remaining end of said belt is connected.

In the treatment of varicocele it has been fou'nddcsirable to so support the testicle and spermatic cord which supports said testicle as to induce a free circulation of the blood through thedilated veins of the cord, thereby relieving said veins from the effects of the congestion of blood therein. In accomplishing this it has been determined that a free circulation of blood is better attained by first inverting the affected testicle and retaining the same in its inverted position.

In utilizing my invention that portion of the scrotum which is immediately beneath the inverted testicle is clamped within the wire 1,

the latter being sufficiently coiled and curled to insure a proper engagement or clamping of said scrotum. This being accomplished. that portion of the scrotumwhich contains the inverted testicle is incased by the casing 2, and the strap 3 is buckled about that portion of the scrotum which is immediately above the testicle. The belt 4 is passed about the waist of the patientand buckled at the desired point. In the manner above described it will be seen that the inverted testicle is retained in the desired position within the pocket of the casing which is formed between the v clamping-wire 1 and the binding-strap 3.

' From the construction described it will be understood that my improved appliance may be produced at a comparatively small expense and that the same may be readily and easily applied by an unskilled person.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In asupporter, asleeve-like fabric casing, clamping means associated with the casing, means for binding the casing, and means for supporting the casing.

2. The combination with a supporting-belt and a tape or arm extending therefrom,'of a casing having a clamping device at one end, and a binding-strap adapted to encircle the casing adjustably secured upon the tape or arm.

AUGUSTUS ZANGMEISTER.

In presence of O. O. SHEPHERD, M. B. SoHLEY. 

